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BACKGROUND/AIMS: A problem commonly encountered in plastic and reconstructive surgery is the prediction of the stress put on the skin when various types of skin flaps are used. METHODS/RESULTS: We developed a mathematical model based on the finite element method, in order to determine the stress field, by simulating the mechanical behaviour of human skin during wound closure. We chose to take into account the low compressive strength by modifying the mechanical parameters of the model at each step of the calculation. The model has been developed and tested on a diamond-shaped incision and applied on a Limberg incision. CONCLUSION: The results presented are the Von Mises stress in the area of skin around the scar and, when possible, the resultant closure force. They show the relevance of the method.
Retel et al. (Wed,) studied this question.